Hey everyone,
In my last thread I asked you what was the *strongest* reason you bought a PS3. So far the clear majority is for the exclusive games (120 votes - 43.80%) or at least the promise of exclusive games with FFXIII, MGS4 and GoW being mentioned quite a lot.
Blu-ray on the other hand is currently much less with 30 votes (10.95%) .
But what if the PS3 had no blu-ray, but instead had a DVD drive similarly to the PS2? How do you think this would have effected the sales right from the start of its launch until now?
A few interesting points I'd like to raise:
1. HD-DVD may have won the HD disc format war which was backed up by Microsoft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_HD_DVD_Player
2. Large games that otherwise fit on one Blu-ray disc would be sold on multiple discs ie. FFXIII, MGS4.
3. The launch price of the PS3 would of possibly have been much less.
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/746/746482p1.html
4. Leading on from 3. Hypothetically speaking, if the PS3 had sold better from the beginning from the lower price point, it may not have lost as many third-party exclusives as it has. However there are a few other factors that come into play there for example Microsoft's money, difficult/more expensive platform to develop for a cell processor and Sony didn't seal exclusivity deals.
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2007/07/sonys-lost-excl/
5. Games that have needed mandatory installs (GTA IV, Devil May Cry 4) would have not needed them.
http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/04/01/the-mystery-behind-playstation-3s-sometimes-mandatory-installations-as-far-as-we-know/
6. Having won the HD disc format war Blu-ray is a major benefit to Sony and the PS3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkP0ejSBfUk
Personally I reckon the Blu-rayless PS3 wouldn't have been able to stop the juggernaut that is the Wii, but with that lower inital price point and potentially the keeping of the many (timed) third-party exclusives it's unfortunately lost, it would be in 2nd place right now. That is not to say I wouldn't want it to have blu-ray. I love Blu-ray! :D But then again, for most of you it isn't the strongest reason you bought a PS3, remember?
So what if the PS3 had no Blu-ray? Would it be winning?
